Child&#39;s playpen and sandbox device



y 8,1969 A. H. ELKINGTON ET AL 3,454,272

CHILD'S PLAYPEN AND SANDBOX DEVICE Filed Aug. 8, 1966 1 I //Wz=/vm@5 flumfr/ifzmvam/v 01/1/15? 5 195K017 United States Patent Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 571,054 Int. Cl. A63g 31/00; A47b 83/02 US. Cl. 2721 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A childs playpen and confining structure making provision for central seating of a child with reference to an elevated annular trough adapted to contain sand or water and toys which is of simple and durable structure employing a pair of double leg crossed members having lower horizontal and radially arranged ground or floorengaging means and having terminal upstanding leg portions which are affixed at their upper ends to the trough to support the same at proper elevation. The structure further includes an upstanding frame or means rigidly interconnected with the inner portions of the crossed members for supporting a concentrically disposed upstanding heat. The seat is disposed concentrically of the trough and mounted for free rotation to give access to the child of all areas of the play-trough.

This invention relates to a playpen and sandbox combination structure for small children, wherein the child is seated and confined within an upstanding annulus forming a part of the sand and play area, and may pivot or swing on its swivel seat to make use of the entire play or sand area which is positioned substantially concentric and outwardly of the pivot axis of the seat.

It is an object of our invention to provide a very economical and compact playpen and sandbox structure for small children which may be used indoors or out of doors, occupying relatively small space while nevertheless giving the user a relatively large and extended playing surface for the support of toys, sand, and if desired, water.

A further object is the provision of a device of the class previously described where a substantially horizontal playing surface is supported above the ground or floor and has combined therewith a small, low seat, pivotally mounted so the child can swivel when seated, to utilize a relatively large annular playing surface.

More specifically, it is an object to provide in a playpen and sandbox for small children, a supported annular trough constituting the playing surface at its bottom, and adapted to contain sand, water and playthings, and where an annular edge of the trough constitutes a confining means for the child and has related therewith, a low swivel seat upon which the child may sit with his legs disposed between the edge of the seat and the upstanding annulus.

A still further object is the provision of a very simple but efficient childs playpen and sandbox, adapted to be manufactured at low cost and particularly adapted for compacting of parts for packaging, storage and shipment.

These and other objects and advantages of our invention will more readily appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of our invention, with dotted lines indicating the outline of a childs figure, using the device, and also indicating two playthings which are supported upon the playing area;

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section taken diameterically ICC through the device on a plane just forwardly of one of the double leg sections; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device, with the right hand portion of one of the double leg members broken away.

Referring now to the embodiment illustrated, we employ a relatively large annular trough indicated as an entirety by the numeral 5, having a relatively wide, substantially horizontal bottom 5a, an upstanding annular outer wall 5b, and an upstanding annular inner wall 50. The trough may of course be variously dimensioned according to the desired width of the playing surface or bottom 5a, and taking into consideration the relative sizes of children for whom the device is intended.

We prefer to have the inner annulus 5a of a height considering the support of the device above ground or floor level, so that it will be a confining means or pen for small children between the ages of 2 and 5. For example, the exterior diameter of trough 5 would be in the'neigh-borhood of 40 inches and the internal diameter of annulus 5c would be in the neighborhood of 20 inches.

As shown, trough 5 is made up of an annular bottom 5a which may be metal or plywood, or any other suitable material and the inner and outer annuli 5c and 5b are constructed of metal or plastic nailed or otherwise secured to the respective inner and outer edges of the bottom 5a. It is desirable that the joints between the annular edges and bottom be sealed so that if desired, water may be contained within the trough and the child may play with water toys.

The play area trough 5 is supported as shown by a pair of crossed double leg structures identified as entireties by the letter D. Each of said structures D includes a pair of widely spaced, upstanding legs 6 having the upper ends inturned to form attachment flanges 6a which are attached as by screws to the underside of the bottom 5a of the trough.

The intermediate portions of each double leg structure extend horizontally and radially at 6b to as shown, underlie and interconnect with an annular seat base 7. For economy in manufacture, if the bottom 5a of the trough is made from plastic, plywood or composition, the circular portion cut out of the same may be employed for the seat base 7. The central portions 60 of the double leg structures are upturned in inverted U-shaped fashion extending upwardly for some distance through the aperture in the seat base 7, and each having a narrow central and horizontal portion 6d. The two double leg structures are preferably each integrally formed from strap metal and when our device is assembled, they are crossed perpendicularly and the respective attachment flanges 6a secured to the bottom 5a of the trough.

The elevated central sections 6d of the double leg structure are each centrally tapped with the apertures of the cross structures aligned to threadedly receive the externally threaded shaft 8 for the swivel seat S. Shaft 8 carries a head 10 which is swivelly connected (not shown) with the upper end of shaft 8 and the head 10 is connected as by screws with the bottom of seat S. Thus, the seat may be adjusted by turning the head 10 and its shaft 8 in the threads provided by the sections 6d. When in the desired adjusted position, the lock nut 9 is screwed tightly against the under section 6d to hold the shaft rigid in the desired position.

Looking downward from our assembled device, the periphery of seat S is disposed coaxially of the inner annulus 5c of the trough playing field, leaving sulficient distance between the lower edges of the interior of the trough and the seat, to nicely accommodate the knees and lower portion of the childs legs.

In use, a child is positioned upon the swivel seat S centrally of the open annular trough 5. His center position relatively to the device is determined by the rigid interconnection through the double cross leg structures D with the upstanding support for the seat. The childs knees and lower leg extremities are positioned below the bottom 5a of the trough with freedom for him to swing or swivel on the seat S to reach to different parts of the playing trough. Of course, the trough may be partially filled with sand or water if the child desires to play with water toys. In addition, playthings may be positioned at different parts throughout the circular area of the trough.

In use the device is rugged, rigid, and the seat cannot topple or change its position from the predetermined position described and shown in the drawings.

With younger children, average ages from two to four, the child can be lifted into the enclosure and seated upon the swivel seat S. The child will then be confined as in a playing pen. The older children of course will climb over the trough.

It will of course be understood that while a swivel seat S is preferred, this seat may well be stationary with a slippery periphery and upper surface, enabling the child to rotate himself thereon.

As shown the height of the seat S may be adjusted by loosening the lock nut 9 and turning the seat post 8 counterclockwise to thereby elevate the supporting head 10 to which the seat proper is swivelly connected. It will be seen that several children may pleasurably use the playing surface of trough D, sitting in spaced relation about the external periphery thereof.

Our structure is well adapted for compact packaging, shipment and storage in collapsed form. To this end the two cross double leg structures D are detached from the trough bottom 5a and also from the seat base 7 and may be set in a rectangular container of approximately 40 x 40 inches in width and breadth, and 16 inches in depth. The trough can be set upon the two legs disposed backto-back, edgewise and adequate room is present for receiving the swivel seat S, the bolt 8 and its head 10.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that we have provided an economical, interesting playpen and sandbox device for small children which will afford various amusements to a child such as playing with and molding sand, and playing with mechanical and water toys. The child is able to play with a number of different devices or sand molds throughout an annular play area, which surrounds the child and enables him to conveniently utilize the entire area.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangements and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A ch'ilds playpen and sand box structure having in combination,

4 an annular trough for containing sand and playthings defined interiorly by an upstanding annulus of a diameter to freely accommodate the lower portion of a childs body, means for supporting said trough some distance above a supporting surface such as a floor, and a seat disposed substantially axially of said upstanding annulus and at a level below the upper edge of said annulus, said seat having an upstanding support secured to said trough supporting means in a fixed relationship thereto, said trough-supporting means comprising a pair of double leg crossed members, each having upstanding leg portions fixed at their upper ends to the bottom of said trough, and each having horizontally and radially extending lower portions upturned at cen tral portions to constitute an upstanding seat support disposed concentrically of the interior of said trough, and the seat affixed to said upstanding support and disposed coaxially and somewhat below the interior annulus of said trough. 2. A childs playpen and confining structure having in combination,

an annular trough for containing sand and playthings defined interiorly by an upstanding annulus of a diameter to freely accommodate the lower portion of a childs body, means for supporting said trough some distance above a supporting surface such as a floor, said means comprising a pair of double leg crossed members, each having horizontal and radially disposed floor-engaging sections and upstanding terminal leg portions fixed at their upper ends to the lower portion of said trough, upstanding means rigidly interconnected with inner portions of said crossed members for supporting an upstanding seat, and a seat rotatably secured to said upstanding supporting means at a level below said trough and in concentric relation with said trough. 3. The structure set forth in claim 2 further characterized by means for adjusting the position of said rotatable seat as to height.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 162,153 4/1875 Clark 297136 1,313,330 8/1919 Pocock 297137 2,198,813 4/1940 Hall 297137 2,697,478 12/ 1954 McKinney 27233 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD W. DIAZ, JR., Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 297-137 

